Daily Archives: 08/23/2011

Aug 2011

Washington, D.C., seems light years away from the Tri-Cities sometimes, not just in miles but in values.
Here, as there, we differ on how to get things done and what things we need to do. But we tend to work these things out, one local interest group to another, without a lot of drama.
There, the numbers are immensely larger but the concepts are quite similar — finding the right balance between money and services. It is against this background that we welcome, enthusiastically, the appointment of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., to co-chair the debt reduction supercommittee with Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas.- Tri-City Herald

Aug 12 2011

Shannon Dininny

Seven months before graduation, Alex Dimas toured aviation manufacturer GE Aviation Systems and applied for a job. Then, the company and his instructors at Perry Technical Institute worked with him to strengthen his skills until he graduated. Three years later, he’s still at the company, working as a machinist building hydraulic fuses for 737s. “They gave me the confidence to know I can come in here and know what I’m doing,” the 29-year-old married father of two said. State and local officials say making that caliber of training available to young and laid-off workers is crucial to filling the available jobs, not just in Washington state, but nationally. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray calls it a deficit of infrastructure and innovation.

Aug 10 2011

Sheila Hagar

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray was in town Monday, wearing her trademark tennies and sporting a listening ear. And there was plenty to hear as Murray, D-Wash., and her assembled panel sat in a room packed with veterans and others at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 992. Led by facilitator Doug Bayne, director of the Walla Walla Community College Foundation, panelists took turns explaining to the senator the issues they see in the universe of veterans. Housing challenges, for example. Renee Rooker, of Walla Walla Housing Authority, told Murray there are nearly 150 homeless veterans in the area. While there are programs in place to help get those men and women into housing, actually getting that done is a problem. “There is a lack of funding for deposits, security and utility deposits, to get veterans into a permanent home.” Coupled with communication gaps between federal agencies that are supposed to help veterans and a retroactive 17 percent reduction in administrative fees — that cut screening staff — it all equals an inability to fully serve a vulnerable population, Rooker told Murray. She gets it, Murray assured her audience. Her father served in World War II. His war-caused injuries affected every component of family life.

Health Insurance Coverage with No Waiting Period

Are you uninsured? Do you have a pre-existing condition?

If your answer is yes to both questions, you may be eligible for the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan – a new federal program for children and adults with pre-existing conditions who have been uninsured for at least six months – with no waiting period.

President Obama announced a common-sense policy change that will make our immigration system fairer and smarter. I’m proud to support it, and I hope you are, too.

Under the administration’s guidance, immigration courts are going to focus on deporting people who have been convicted of crimes or who pose a security risk. This means that the courts will focus less on “low-priority” cases — like young people who were brought here as small children and know no other home, or veterans and military spouses.

So the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice will be reviewing the current deportation caseload, clearing out low-priority cases, and making sure they don’t get into the system in the first place — keeping the focus on cases that will make our country safer. It’s a smart, strategic change. And it will make a difference.

But more comprehensive change requires Congress to act. And we’ll need to build momentum for this fight by raising awareness and demanding action on immigration reform. That starts with getting the word out to our friends and family about this important policy change.

When the Senate convenes at 10:00am on Friday, September 2nd, it will adjourn until 2:00pm on September 6, 2011. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 5:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

The next roll call votes will be at 5:30pm on Tuesday, September 6th. The first roll call vote will be on confirmation of the Donald nomination. The 2nd will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R.1249, the Patent Reform bill.

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The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on August 23, 2011.

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF AUGUST 23, 2011112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

10:04 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to sections 3 and 4 of H.Res 375. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on August 26, 2011.

10:03 A.M. – DISPENSING WITH LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS – Pursuant to section 4 of H.Res. 375, the Chair announced that no legislative business would be conducted on this day.